Is It Fate? (An AlDub Fanfic)

Chapter 5

Present Day... (3 weeks later from previous chapter)

I just finished checking in our luggage and making sure that our passports and boarding passes are in order.  We were at the airport.  My kids and I are due to board a plane in an hour to take us to the Philippines.  We were to vacation for 6 weeks.  Jake and I decided 3 weeks ago that this was something that would do us good.  Maybe miss each other, see things in perspective.  They said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Who knows?  Maybe this was what we needed to do so we could get back on track.   I had Sebastian in his stroller in the meantime and Celestine was jumping up and down, excited for the impending trip, skipping here and there and around Jake.  

Jake was looking at me from a distance.  He didn't join me at the check-in counter, choosing instead to watch over our hand-carry luggage and staying with our kids.  He had a look on his face that I couldn't decipher.  He wasn't exactly smiling because he was happy we were leaving but because of something else.  Sadness maybe? Indifference? Regret?

I went to him once I was done to get the kids as well as our remaining luggage.  We had quite a bit of a walk to the terminal where we will board so we needed to go since boarding was in an hour.  I took my trolley bag from him and held onto Sebastian's stroller.  "Thanks," I told him, not really looking at him.

"Yeah," he answered.  "So..."

"So..."

"Enjoy.  Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry hindi ako nakasama.  I know we need this time apart but I also know na tatanungin ka nila."

I shook my head at him.  "They don't know anything, Jake.  About us and what's going on, I mean.  They were pretty excited na makita ang mga apo nila.  Plus I told them na you have work kaya hindi ka makakasama since biglaan din ito."

He nodded then stepped closer to me and gave me a hug.  I hugged him back and closed my eyes, tears threatening to fall once more.  Why did I suddenly feel that this 'vacation' might be for good?  Why did I feel that this would be the last time I would feel his arms around me?

"Take care, Maine," he whispered in my ear.  "No matter what happens - remember that I will always love you."

I didn't reply and by now, the tears really started to cascade down on my cheeks.  I just stood there and embraced him tighter.  We probably looked like your typical couple in an airport saying their goodbye's to each other, telling each other that they will miss the other.  But this felt like a forever goodbye.  

We broke apart when we felt Celestine wrap her arms around both our legs.  "Mommy, are we going?  We're going to ride an airplane!"

I wiped my eyes and smiled down at my daughter.  "Yes, baby.  We definitely are.  And you will enjoy it, for sure."

"We're going to see lola and lolo! Yay!" she squealed in glee, letting go of our legs and running around Sebastian.  Jake couldn't help but chuckle at his daughter's happiness.  

He looked back at me, smiling as he put his hand up to hold my face.  I leaned towards his hand and smiled back.  "I'll miss you," he told me.  "I hope you will still come back."

"Don't," I answered.  "Don't say it like you know that I might not.  You know that we both need this.  Baka kailangan lang natin ng time apart para makapag-isip.  I will be back before you know it."

He nodded at me and stooped down to face Celestine who was tugging at his pant leg.  "Yes, princess?"

"Are you really not coming with us, daddy?"

"No, baby love.  Daddy has work.  But don't worry - I will ask from my work if I could follow you there.  If not, then I'll see you back here after 6 weeks, ok?"